Survey results confirming what most already knew *grins*

[Q.]

Intellect is not fluke, it's the result of millions of years of evolution.

[bulldogproud2]

Intellect is not fluke, it's the result of millions of years of evolution.

Sorry, I am going to make one more post *grins*

Perhaps, but what caused it to even start to develop? If we are accepting that the first being on this earth was a single-celled being of very little, if any, intellect, what could possibly have caused intellect to develop and grow. Just saying it is evolution is a bit of a cop-out, is it not?

Cheers

[bennymacca]

Nope, it just shows that you don't understand evolution.

[bennymacca]

Intellect is not fluke, it's the result of millions of years of evolution.

Which is millions of years of trial and error until you fluke it

[Booney]

This weeks Advertiser has had this debate raging in the Letter to the Editor.

One creationist's poem about earth, science and fossils took the cake. Along the lines of :

"God left some bones in the ground
so when he rolled earth into a ball
there would be something to be found"

LM-athiest-FAO.

Some people....

[mighty_tiger_79]

im glad my letter gave you a giggle

[shoe boy]

Go for a walk on the 3rd floor of the Children's Hospital and ask is their a God?

[bennymacca]

Yep if a god is letting all of that suffering happen, he must be a real c*nt

[Booney]

Yep if a god is letting all of that suffering happen, he must be a real c*nt

[Psyber]

Intellect is not fluke, it's the result of millions of years of evolution.

Sorry, I am going to make one more post *grins*

Perhaps, but what caused it to even start to develop? If we are accepting that the first being on this earth was a single-celled being of very little, if any, intellect, what could possibly have caused intellect to develop and grow. Just saying it is evolution is a bit of a cop-out, is it not?

Cheers

The best theory I have heard about he growth of intellect is that natural selection favours the smart who notice the predator coming, and that much further down the track the various hominids in our ancestry took a great step forward beyond other species in that regard after the discovery of fire, because cooked food is more nutritionally available in terms of being able to be broken down and absorbed - though you do lose a few vitamins.

[The Sleeping Giant]

This is the statement that really worries me. It shows absolutely no tolerance for the views of others. Apparently, if anyone disagrees with Sleeping Giant's viewpoint, they are unintelligent, scared and ignorant.

You will have to point out where I posted this?

Yet, this is exactly what he goes on to condemn in others.

I haven't condemned anyone. That's more your department.

Anyway, this is my last post on this forum.

Okay. In my opinion, my least offensive post that has made someone leave safooty.

I just know that I have looked deeply into various faiths, have analysed and discerned and have developed the belief structure I have. I fully support each of you in how you have developed your own. Just don't tell me that I am ignorant, unintelligent and scared just because I have different beliefs to you.
Cheers

I have also read about and discussed religion with people of various religions. I don't have a problem with people being religious. Live and let live. Just keep it out of politics, science, the bedroom, my front door and letter box.

Obviously, I haven't met the intellectual giants of religion yet.

P.S. I don't find Australia to be a country full of people that have above average intelligence. I have found most people are just intelligent enough to "get by".

[Chuck Wepner]

Excuse me, but what has this thread got to do with politics? Apart from Abbott being a staunch fanatical catholic...

[bennymacca]

You obviously didn't read the first post. It got sidetracked but still interesting. So please gtfo

[bulldogproud2]

I don't think it is fair to say that those who embrace religion are unintelligent. The alternative is that everything simply happened by random chance. I would love to know where intelligence, emotions, the ability to procreate etc. came from if it was all by random chance. Over 70% of Australians still class themselves as belonging to a religion. Does that mean that we have an incredibly unintelligent population?? Have you considered, as many have, that science has enlightened us to some of the processes God has used (e.g. evolution) but it has never been able to fully disprove the existence of God.

Cheers

Science has proved many things. Religion has proved nothing. Religion is the community that has to prove God exists.

I find religious people unintelligent, scared and ignorant. Unable to accept other peoples opinions, unable to let people live as they choose and unable to accept people living outside the hive mind.

p.s. Love this part of your post. "Have you considered, as many have, that science has enlightened us to some of the processes God has used (e.g. evolution)". That's enough random internet posts for me tonight. Staggering.

Sorry, had to jump back to answer Sleeping Giant's post. Btw, I used the wrong term yesterday. I did not mean I was leaving SAFooty completely, just this thread as I had already said too much and got a bit under the collar.
Sleeping Giant, you asked to see where you had stated that those who disagreed with your opinion were unintelligent, scared and ignorant - well, here it is. You disagree with the opinion of religious people so you use those terms to describe them. They were not my words. It may have been better to say that you found the viewpoint of such people on such issues 'unintelligent'. However, using the words you did, you condemned 70% of Australia's population and not just their viewpoint on religious matters but overall.

Also, I try as a general rule to never condemn anyone. I may disagree with viewpoints but I pretty much would never condemn a person. That is not my style. I must admit to having a bad day yesterday, feeling like I was under personal attack here with some of the comments made, and I apologise for that. As said before though, I will never find those who are religious nor those who are nonreligious to be ignorant nor unintelligent, as long as they have looked deeply into issues and discerned matters. We are all entitled to our opinions. I totally respect people like Psyber and bennymacca even though we may disagree strongly on issues such as this one. At least they put forward reasons for their viewpoints. I would even admit that I learned quite a bit from them yesterday.

As for keeping religion out of politics, that will never happen nor should it. Religious viewpoints, whether they be from people of a faith or athiests (yes, atheism is defined as a religion) shape the opinions and values of pretty much everyone. Religion is so much a part of who each of us is, whether we like it or not. Study of religion is also very useful as it helps us to understand one another's background and viewpoints.

Cheers

[The Sleeping Giant]

I'm still trying to figure out where I have said if people disagree with my opinion they are wrong.

Also not sure why you are so concerned with the fact I haven't met any highly intelligent religious people in my time offends.

[bennymacca]

I think you may have misunderstood my initial assertion bulldog. My point was not that all religious people are stupid, but that less intelligent people are sometimes drawn to religion, and conservative views in general (as the original article points out), because it makes people feel safe.

That is not to say that there aren't highly intelligent people that are also religious, or right wing for that matter, there clearly are.

But as the original article points out, less intelligent people are drawn to these views because they may be incapable of putting themselves in others shoes, or thinking in a socialist manner.

Sorry if my comments offended the other day, it was not intentional. I find the topic of why people have the views that they do, be that political, religious or otherwise highly interesting, and I can respect other peoples views even when I don't agree with them

[bulldogproud2]

I think you may have misunderstood my initial assertion bulldog. My point was not that all religious people are stupid, but that less intelligent people are sometimes drawn to religion, and conservative views in general (as the original article points out), because it makes people feel safe.

That is not to say that there aren't highly intelligent people that are also religious, or right wing for that matter, there clearly are.

But as the original article points out, less intelligent people are drawn to these views because they may be incapable of putting themselves in others shoes, or thinking in a socialist manner.

Sorry if my comments offended the other day, it was not intentional. I find the topic of why people have the views that they do, be that political, religious or otherwise highly interesting, and I can respect other peoples views even when I don't agree with them

Benny, I am totally fine with your comments. I also agree that some less intelligent people may be drawn to religion. After all, many find themselves in a poor financial position and status and find that they need to cling to some form of 'hope'. However, and I know you agree with this, many religious people have looked deeply into the beliefs of religious faiths and have used intellect and discernment to reach their position of being religious. Although I may have taken offence at a couple of your particular points, I know that yours were not meant to be offensive and many of, in fact probably all, of your points have been excellent and well thoughtout. You have even opened my eyes to a few points, and that is great. Additionally, you have been willing to listen to my viewpoint and give it some thought.
What i take objection to is a comment made that 'religious people are unintelligent, scared and ignorant'.

Cheers

[am Bays]

Did my own survey on this last night at the Adelaide Club

Suffice to say we didn't get the same result, old boy....

[mickey]

As for keeping religion out of politics, that will never happen nor should it. Religious viewpoints, whether they be from people of a faith or athiests (yes, atheism is defined as a religion) shape the opinions and values of pretty much everyone. Religion is so much a part of who each of us is, whether we like it or not. Study of religion is also very useful as it helps us to understand one another's background and viewpoints.

Cheers

Religion should be kept as far away from politics as possible. Each elected member is there to represent the people of the electorate. When it comes to vote on certain issues such as euthanasia, same sex marriage, abortions etc, there should be no such thing as a conscience vote. The way a certain individual feels about a certain topic has no bearing on what the electorate feels.

Items like the above mentioned should be put to a referendum where every person gets to have their own conscience vote.

[bennymacca]

I would agree with that. I also think that voting along party lines is also something that shouldn't happen. Every vote should be what their individual electorate wants